MENA Scholarship Programme (MSP)
Scholarships for professionals from the Middle East and North Africa to take part in short courses in the Netherlands, funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and managed by Nuffic.
Quick Facts
Status
Opening SoonFunding
Full / PartialDeadline
Set individually by each Dutch educational institution
Country
NetherlandsAll Netherlands guidesEvery Netherlands scholarship in one place→About the MENA Scholarship Programme
The MENA Scholarship Programme (MSP) builds capacity within organisations in the Middle East and North Africa by providing professional development opportunities in the Netherlands. It focuses on supporting young professional impact makers through short courses and tailor made training initiatives.
The programme fosters strong alumni networks and mutual understanding between participating countries and the Netherlands. Funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of the Shiraka programme, the initiative is managed by the Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education, Nuffic.
Individual scholarships are directed at professionals who wish to study in the Netherlands through host institutions and Dutch knowledge organisations. Each educational institution manages its own application process, criteria, and deadlines.
The programme also includes a Tailor-Made Training component for groups of professionals or staff from the same organisation. Eligible organisations can apply for group training grants that address specific regional training needs in cooperation with a custom Dutch training provider.
Eligible Levels
Eligible Fields
Why Choose This Scholarship?
Directly funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Designed specifically for professionals from the Middle East and North Africa region
Managed by Nuffic with established institutional links
Provides both individual short course mobility and organisational group training
What the Scholarship Covers
Eligibility Requirements
4 requirements
Documents Checklist
1 document required
How to Apply - Step by Step
Identify an eligible short course at a Dutch knowledge institution or university
Check individual criteria and deadlines established by the host institution
Submit the application directly to the host educational institution via their designated portal
Application Timeline
April 1, 2025
Application Round Opening
Next scholarship rounds open for applicants
Insider Tips & Pro Tips
Visit the dedicated MSP portal at www.MSPnuffic.nl for primary guidance
Contact the specific Dutch educational institution offering your target course for exact deadlines
Ensure your current country of residence matches the active list of eligible nations for the current round
Review specific country focus areas before submitting a Tailor-Made Training proposal
Tag @NufficGLobalDevelopment on LinkedIn or Facebook to connect with the alumni network
Frequently Asked Questions
3 questions - click any to expand
Eligible countries include Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Sudan, Tunisia, and Syria under specific residency conditions. Note that Sudan is excluded from 2025 application rounds.
Applications are handled directly by the host Dutch educational institutions offering the short course, not by Nuffic centrally.
The MSP focuses primarily on short courses and Tailor-Made Training group programmes for professionals rather than full degree studies.
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